The last week has been a nightmare. It started with that stroll on the beach, when Liesa dragged me out of the restaurant without dinner.

We take a moment to kiss and paw at each other by the surf. Jeri makes us do it over and over so Bob can get just the right angles. I figure they’ll add swelling music and make it look like the most romantic setting in the history of the world.

In reality, the camera lights blind us, I have a hunger headache, and Liesa lives up to her reputation as the bitchiest girl on television. Tom keeps yelling at looky-loos to clear the area. After a couple of hours of that bullshit, Tom, Jeri, and Bob, the cameraman, call it a successful shoot and leave us.

Liesa stomps toward the road, phone in hand, calling a taxi.

I follow. “What the hell is your problem?”

She spins toward me, sand flying under her bare feet. “My problem? You’re supposed to be IN LOVE with me. You can’t live without me. And then you pull bullshit like you did tonight?”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I know exactly what she’s talking about.

She pokes me in the chest with her fingernail. “You take one look at Kylie and act like a sniper put a bullet in your heart.”

Shit. “She surprised me, that’s all. It’s no big deal.”

She does a 180 and spits words into my face. “Oh, really? You don’t think Jeri zeroed in on that dynamic? Do you want to draw Kylie into this goddamned circus? Because if you don’t learn to keep a poker face, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.”

Kylie can never be anywhere close to this shitshow.

God, I’m hungry and now getting mad. “So now you’re so concerned about Kylie?”

“Yes. Damnit.” Her voice rises. “I don’t want her involved in this fucked-up version of reality. It’s too late for us. You and I are neck-deep. We can’t have friends or lives because Bob is practically sticking his fucking camera up our asses every minute of the day. I don’t want that for her”

I should probably talk her down, but I have half a bottle of Chablis in my empty stomach, not to mention the tequila I’d downed to sedate myself for the date. “I don’t want Kylie involved any more than you do.”

Without warning, she explodes in tears. Suspicious, I look in the bushes for Bob, and even though I don’t see him, I wait for the spotlight. When he doesn’t appear, I think maybe the tears are real but I’ve had about all I can take of Liesa and her drama. “Now what’s the problem?”

She shakes her head. “Nothing.”

Oh, we’re going to play this game. “Look, I don’t know what I did or said, but I’m sorry, okay?” I admit that even to me, it sounds harsh and insincere.

Through her runny nose and wet eyes, she shouts, “You asshole!”

“I don’t need this shit.” I leave her on the beach. Probably not a safe thing, but the taxi will be here soon. I need to eat and get out of the whole situation for a little while.

I assume this little episode will blow over and the next day, we’ll be back at the show, setting up our romance, working toward the big bedroom finale.

But that’s not what happens.

I haven’t heard from her in days.

Yeah, I’d been a shit to leave her. But it isn’t that big of a deal. I didn’t think. Not enough that she should cut me off of communication for days. Maybe I should think of it as vacation and enjoy the break. I know it can’t last long.

You’re an asshole. Liesa doesn’t deserve to be treated like this.

You wouldn’t do this to Kylie.

She’s not Kylie.

The door to my room opens and I keep my eyes closed, hoping I’m still asleep and dreaming. No such luck.

Alicia pounces on the bed, jostling me to a groggy wakefulness. I have to try twice before words push from my throat in a rusty croak. “Leave me alone.”

Mom, Niles, and Alicia had flown in yesterday for a week of sun and sand. I’d enjoyed our condo to myself for the last couple of months and wasn’t overjoyed to have them back.

She rolls off the bed and stands above me with her hands on her hips. “I’m your ally, bro.”

Even though the heavy drapes cover my window and the room remains in shadow, I squint at her, hoping to alleviate the pounding of my typical hangover. “Why do I need an ally?”

She grabs my wrist in an effort to get me to sit up. “Because Jonas called Niles and whatever he said pissed Niles off. I heard him tell Jonas he’d take care of it.”

Take care of it? Does he mean me? Am I getting cut out of the show?

Fuck.

As much as I want that, I can’t let it happen. Jonas will make good on his promise to find Kylie and fuck up her life, just to spite me.

I swing my legs to the side of the bed and sit up, giving myself a moment to fight the nausea. “Thanks,” I say to Alicia. “I owe you one.”

“You owe me more than one.” She sidles toward the door. “Someday I’ll make you pay.”

Once Alicia is out of the room, I stagger to the bathroom and stick my mouth under the tap. I need to hydrate and think of a way out of this crazy situation.

I have to make amends with Liesa but my half-ass attempts haven’t worked. I’d called, sent her roses and candy. No response. They were probably tossed into the ocean. If I really cared, I’d have driven over there and pulled a Say Anything moment standing outside her gate with a boombox until she gave in.

I’d have done all that and more for Kylie.

But Liesa is like the term paper you know has to be written but you have all semester to get it done. You don’t want to think about it and let it ruin your whole semester so you put it off. And then, when you realize it’s due in two days, you wake in a panic and finish it.

Jonas calling Niles is that realization. I hadn’t worked too hard on Liesa because I’m so focused on Kylie. All I can think of is Kylie. I can’t be with Liesa when Kylie’s face and body swim in my mind every minute. But I can’t be with Kylie because I need to hide her from Jonas.

I drive to The Green Frog every night but can’t make myself go in. I sit in the darkness on the beach and watch her.

Kylie.

She looks worried and tired. I want to go to her. Hold her. Tell her it’ll be all right. But I can’t do that. I need to focus on Liesa and getting Jonas what he wants.

It’s a terrible circle and the only relief I have is drinking. So that’s what I do. I drive to The Green Frog with a bottle of bourbon and work my way through it until Timothy, the bartender, drives Kylie home. Then I go back to the condo. If the sun still hasn’t come up, I pilfer drinks from Niles’s stash. I finally pass out and wake in the afternoon. That gives me enough time to send Liesa another peace offering, treat my hangover, and drive to The Green Frog.

But my assignment is due now. No more procrastination. I step into the shower and run hot water over my head. I shoot out of the condo before Niles has a chance to corner me.